Berkeley Pit
The Berkeley Pit is a former open pit copper mine in the western United States, located in Butte, Montana.
A lake inside Butte-Silver Bow
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 14°, with about 15" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Butte-Silver Bow
Berkeley Pit is inside Butte-Silver Bow, which has 33 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul and Aug
June, July and August are the mild months, with highs of 68–79°. When to go ↓
An airport 4 miles away
Bert Mooney (BTM) has airline service, about 4 miles from Berkeley Pit.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Butte-Silver Bow. Green months are the mild ones.
Berkeley Pit
The Berkeley Pit is a former open pit copper mine in the western United States, located in Butte, Montana. It is one mile (1.6 km) long by one-half mile (800 m) wide, with an approximate maximum depth of 1,780 feet (540 m). It is filled to a depth of about 900 feet (270 m) with water that is acidic (4.1 - 4.5 pH level), about the acidity of beer or tomatoes. As a result, the pit's water is laden with heavy metals and dissolved metals that leach from the rock in a natural process known as acid rock drainage. The pit's water content includes (but is not limited to) dissolved copper, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and sulfuric acid.
- Type
- Lake
- Wikipedia readers
- 61K a year
Where to stay near Berkeley Pit
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Butte-Silver Bow (33) and Deer Lodge (13).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Berkeley Pit | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte-Silver Bow | in town | — | 33 18 hotels · 1 motel · 3 inns & B&Bs · 5 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 35,785 | $255K | — |
| Deer Lodge | 28 mi north | 45 min | 13 8 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 3,021 | $248K | C+ |
| Boulder | 24 mi northeast | 35 min | 4 2 motels · 2 campgrounds | 1,284 | $212K | — |
| Whitehall | 22 mi southeast | 35 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 1,156 | $194K | — |
| Wise River 49% vacation homes | 26 mi southwest | 40 min | 2 2 lodges & cabins | 30 | $382K | — |
| Basin | 21 mi northeast | 30 min | 1 1 lodge or cabins | 352 | $228K | — |
| Dewey | 24 mi southwest | 35 min | 1 1 RV park | 26 | — | — |
| Cardwell | 28 mi east | 40 min | 1 1 hotel | 30 | — | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Berkeley Pit
Other well-known places within 61 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
61 mi🏛 National BattlefieldBig Hole National Battlefield41K visitors a year⛷52 mi⛷ Ski areaGreat Divide Ski Area109 runs · 1,396 ft vertical
129 mi🏛 National Historic SiteGrant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site24K visitors a year⛷39 mi⛷ Ski areaDiscovery Ski Area50 runs · 2,443 ft vertical⛷50 mi⛷ Ski areaMaverick Mountain Ski Area19 runs · 1,579 ft verticalPhoto credits
Big Hole National Battlefield: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site: National Park Service, Public domain
Visiting Berkeley Pit
Is Berkeley Pit in Butte-Silver Bow?
Yes. It’s inside Butte-Silver Bow, MT.
When is the best time to visit Berkeley Pit?
June, July and August, with highs of 68–79°.
What is the closest airport to Berkeley Pit?
Bert Mooney (BTM), about 4 miles away. The nearest big hub is Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI), about 249 miles.
Where should I stay near Berkeley Pit?
Butte-Silver Bow (in town, 33 places to stay), Deer Lodge (28 mi, 13 places to stay) and Boulder (24 mi, 4 places to stay).
Tips from people in Butte-Silver Bow
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Butte-Silver Bow’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.